Risk, Compliance & Operations Analyst

Payward - the parent company behind Kraken, NinjaTrader, Breakout, xStocks, Payward Services and CF Benchmarks - has spent the last 15 years building one of the most modern and globally accessible financial infrastructure platforms in the industry, built to advance an open, global financial system.

Before you apply, we encourage you to explore our culture page to understand what drives us and how we work.

Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the world's longest-standing crypto platforms, trusted by over 10 million individuals and institutions across the globe. It offers spot trading, margin, futures, staking, and OTC services, with products built for both individual investors and institutional clients.

As the global crypto market transforms under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) and many more regulatory frameworks, Kraken is building the blueprint for how a global exchange scales compliantly — while unlocking new growth across products, markets, and partnerships.

We are seeking a Risk, Compliance and Operations Analyst to help refine our operating model - how can we make processes better and more efficient by leveraging AI where appropriate. The successful candidate will have a broad scope and will be exposed to many critical functions within the firm, offering a huge growth opportunity in one of the oldest and most respected crypto asset exchanges in the world.

Operations

• Enhance, develop and mature operational processes across Risk, Compliance and Operations - using AI where appropriate to streamline workflows, automate operational processes to enhance efficiency and operational scalability

• Support on key compliance and operations initiatives including asset listing and market surveillance

• Support the implementation of the Risk Management Framework - identifying, logging and managing risks

• Support the lifecycle management of outsourcing service providers, in line with regulatory requirements

• Support end-to-end execution of EU MiCAR, and other entities regulatory projects and Product Launches, coordinating across Product, Legal, Risk, Compliance, and Finance

• Support the preparation of Board and Committee materials, including regulatory updates, operational MI, outsourcing oversight reporting, and strategic initiatives for regulated entities

• Prepare executive and Board-level reporting that translates regulatory, operational, and commercial developments into clear risk, performance, and strategic insights for senior leadership and non-executive directors

Strategic Influence

• Engage cross functional teams and help influence decisions that are aligned with the entity’s strategy

• Work on and lead strategic cross functional projects (e.g. license applications)

• Support commercial and product teams in understanding MiCAR requirements and opportunities when designing new offerings

• 2–3 years in consulting, financial services, strategy, or operations — ideally in financial services, fintech, or crypto

• Proven experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives with a commercial or regulatory focus

• Commercially astute — connects regulatory compliance with business growth and customer trust

• Operates with a consulting mindset: structured, analytical, and action-oriented

• Thrives in ambiguity and moves quickly from concept to execution

• Collaborative, low-ego, and able to influence senior stakeholders

• Passionate about crypto, innovation, and responsible scaling in regulated environments

• Knowledge of EU regulatory frameworks (EMRs, MiCAR, MiFID II, PSD2, AMLD5/6, DORA, etc)

Unless a specific application deadline is stated in the job posting, applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Please note, applicants are permitted to redact or remove information on their resume that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment on our team, assessing candidates in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Payward is powered by people from around the world and we celebrate the diverse talents, backgrounds, contributions, and unique perspectives that everyone brings to the table. We hire based on merit, seeking out people with the right abilities, knowledge, and skills for the job. We encourage you to apply for roles where you don't fully meet the listed requirements, especially if you're passionate or knowledgeable about crypto.

We may ask candidates to complete job-related skills or work-style assessments as part of our hiring process. These assessments evaluate competencies relevant to the role and are applied consistently across candidates for similar positions. Results are considered alongside experience and interviews, and are not the sole basis for any employment decision.

As an equal opportunity employer, we don't tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind, whether based on race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, citizenship, religion, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

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